The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-28
All But HANGED.
From the New York Sun.

while standing on the scaffold with the
moose about his neck, must always thrill
The fact of any one standing in the presence
OF death for u moment has strange fasci-
nation about it, and his fellow men are anx-
ious to know what his thoughts and feelings
were as he expected to be ushered into eter-
nifty. 1t has been my ill luck to look squarely
into the eyes of grim death ON several occa-
sions, and my good luck to preserve my
life against the fate which seemed to
hunger for it; and some Of the incidents
may prove interesting to the general
reader.
During the siege of Yorktown by McClel-
Ian was detailed from my company to do
scout work. While my reports no doubt
went to the commander HIMSELF l reported
directly to a division commander, whom |
never met without being forced to notice
the fact that he was the worse for liquor.
Later on in the war there was a chief of
scouts, but at this time there were half a
dozen of Us taking orders direct from this
son. On my third trip was very nearly cap
tured by the Confederates and
in the squeeze / got rid of all
my paper, including the pass which
gave me entrance and exit to the Federal
lines. Therefore, when finally reached the
Federal picket post had nothing by which
to identify myself. The officer in command
who thought to add to his importance by re-
fusing to believe my story and sending me
to the headquarters of the brigade. There
was regarded as a veritable Confederate spy,
and the general in command was extremely
pompous in his demeanor toward me. / can
remember the conversation as vividly as il
it took place yesterday. BY the time l
reached his tent my arms had been tied be-
hind me, and was looked upon as very
dangerous fellow.
$50 you are the d. spy captured
down there at the pickett" shouted the Gen
eral as | stood before him.
II am no spy, sir replied.
"Oh no, of course not; but don't you talk
back to me, you Internal traitor! Who sent
you spying into our campW
II am Union soldier, sir, and belong
''Shut up, you scoundrell Don't think
that you can stand there and lie to me.
What rebel command do you belong too"
None sir. am Union scout, and was
detailed" sd
''Stop!" he shouted, while his face grew
crimson. "While the truth may not help
you, | hate to see you stand in the presence
of death with a lie upon your lips. Guard,
remove him."
was taken away and confined in guard
house, but not for long In about an hour
| was taken to another tent in the same en-
campment, and entered it to find four or
five general officers present. 1t was to be
drumhead court martial. As l afterward
learned, report of my capture had been
sent to headquarters, and Mcclellan had
replied: "Try him by drum-head court
martial; and if found guilty hang him at
SUNRISE A drumhead court martial
is dignifed farce. 1t is convened to con-
vict. The idea is that the victim is guilty,
but must be disposed of according to the
regulations of the War Department, The
fact that openly and boldly approached the
Union picket, land that was coming from the
enemy's lines carried no weight in my favor.
The officer of the picket said was certainly
a spy, and that settled it. When they final
ly condescended to hear my explanation |
gave my name, and stated that the General
to whom made my reports would identify
me. / stood in neither awe nor fear, know
ing how easily could be identified. Some
of the members of the court were opposed to
giving me this chance for my life, but it was
finally decided to dispatch an orderly and
adjourn the court for an hour. / was con-
Quoted back to the guard house to wait, and
when again taken before the officers / ex-
pected to be discharged without delay. You
can therefore imagine my feelings when l
was informed that Gen. - utterly repu-
dated me- My regiment and company were
a dozen miles away and 1felt that it would
be useless to ask further delay. In ten
minutes was found guilty, and sentenced
to execution at sunrise, and before midnight
a scaffold had been prepared.
The only excuse / could offer for him
was that he was drunk when the
messenger reached him, and such proved to
be the case. Reused from his stupid sleep,
he had winked and blinked at the communi-
cation and made out portion Of it, and
then fuug it down with the assertion that
he knew no one of my name. The gallows
was erected within a few rods of where
was confined. Some beams and boards
We're taken from an abandoned house, and
the structure was very rude affair. l
could plainly hear every blow struck and
the fellows engaged in putting it up seemed
to want me to overhear their unfeeling re-
marks About an hour before daylight a
curious change took place in me. l began
TO wonder if was really the man claimed to
be, and it wasn't fifteen minutes before had
come to the conclusion that was some one
else-in fact, a spy as they declared.
This idea took such firm Judgment, in my
mind that would have honestly denied my
real identity. / felt that had been fairly
tried and honestly convicted, and that /
ought to suffer death. There was no partic-
ular terror in the idea. The only thought
about hanging which made me cringe was
the fall through the trap. III seemed 10 me
as / reflected on it that the pain would be
something awful, but was consoled at the
same time with the reflection that it would
soon be over.
Half an hour before sunrise was brought
out and escorted to the foot of the gallows.
If / remember right there was about half a
company of infantry on the ground. Only
a few of the soldiers in camp were out to
witness the proceedings. They had gra-
ciously provided me with spiritual consola-
ton in the person of a chaplain, but,
though the good man talked to me for ten
minutes, did not hear one word in twenty
he uttered was all the time wondering
how long before it would be over, and every
minute of delay made me impatient. When
the time came for me to mount the scaffold
| was really glad of it. There was nothing
in the sight of the dangling rope TO chill me.
l took my place on the tIap, the chaplain ut
tered prayer, and then soldier quickly
tied my elbows and ankles and pulled a cap
over my head. 1t was matter of seconds
now, and said to myself:
sit is coming now-good-by to all-it will
soon be over"
They had to cut rope underneath to
spring the trap. Ny sense of hearing was
so acute that located the man who stood
with an ak ready 10 do this service at
given signal, and heard him whisper to |
himself:
"Why, in Gods name, do they keep the |
1Orey in ~